Wicket or arch for playing croquet and the like.



' S. N. STEWART.

WICKET OR ARCH FOR PLAYING CROQUET AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 1913..

1,299,055. Patented Apr. 1,1919,

Inventor:

I Sylvester Jldfteuzar/fi,

SYLVESTER N. STEWART, 0F MARIETTA, OHIO.

WICKET OR ARCH FOR PLAYING CROQUET AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed October 3. 1918. Serial No. 256,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER N. STEW- ART, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Marietta, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wickets or Arches for Playing Croquet and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for one of its objects to increase the visibility of the arch or Wicket and is adapted for use in daylight playing or in the dusk of evening, or at night, when there is little light.

Another object of the invention is to increase the accuracy of the players strokes by providing a target so positioned in relation to the wicket or arch as will enable the player to aim his shots toward the center line of the wicket.

My construction also enables me to provide a wicket of economical construction, and one which will enable the structure to maintain its shape at its upper portion and will also facilitate the placing of the wicket in the ground.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and Particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawing shows a perspective view of a wicket or arch built according to my invention.

The wicket is made of wire or rod shaped material having its upper or arch portion reinforced by a member 1, which may consist of a block of wood, or piece of board, having openings near its ends at 2 extending vertically therethrough to receive the legs or sides 3 of the wire arch. The upper transverse portion of the wire arch may fit close along the upper edge of the board or block as indicated. The target may consist of a spot painted on both sides of the board centrally over the space between the sides or legs of the wicket and this spot may be of circular form, as shown, or any other desired form.

As above stated the game may be played after dark, the white bulls-eye serving to increase the visibility of the Wicket as well as answering as a target toward which the players may make their strokes.

Candles have been employed heretofore, surmounting a wicket, but the white bullseye saves the cost of candles and avoids the objections existing thereto, arising from the candle grease smearing the wickets and avoiding the annoyance resulting from blowing out of the candles.

The target stiffens the arch, keeps it in shape, adds to the appearance and durability and also serves as a handle with which to push the arch into the ground.

In addition to the bulls-eye placed on the head or board at the top of the wicket I also prefer to enamel the ends of this block or board with white material so that a player approaching the target from the side can make his stroke accurately. The player may be in such a position that the target on the front or back of the block cannot be seen but with the ends of the block painted or enameled white he will be able to determine the direction that his stroke should be made.

Of course the bulls-eye together with the ends of the board may be supplied with a disk or sheet of metal or thin wood set into a slight depression in the block or board and this disk or sheet may be painted or enameled white as above mentioned.

What I claim is:

1. A wicket for playing croquet or the like consisting of a Wire member having legs and a cross portion at the top thereof and a target member connecting the legs at the upper part thereof below the cross portion, substantially as described.

2. A wicket consisting of a wire member having legs and a cross portion at the top and a board or block mounted on the wire legs beneath the cross portion and having a target carried thereby, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the wire member having the legs and the upper cross portion, a board or block having openings receiving the wire member and located below the cross portion, substantially as described.

4. A wicket comprising the legs and the and a board or block mounted on the Wire substantially straight cross piece at the uplegs beneath the cross portion and having a 10 per ends thereof and a board or block contarget carried thereby substantially cennecting the legs and located close below the trally of the face thereof, the end faces of 5 straight cross piece, substantially as dethe board also having targets, substantially scribed. as described.

5. A Wicket consisting of a Wire member In testimony whereoffl afiix my signature. 15 havlng legs and a cross portion at the top SYLVESTER N. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

